Many members of my family play string instruments. Although I was not gifted with this ability (or maybe I am just a bit more lazy), I love listening to them play.

I am sure many of you have a hobby of playing an instrument. And of course, you might want to talk about it in Japanese.

Firstly, the word for “musical instrument” in Japanese is 楽器 (がっき), made up of the kanji for “fun” and “container.” If you want to talk about individual instruments, most of them are katakana words and sound almost the same as in English:

ギター　　　　Guitar
バイオリン　　Violin
ピアノ　　　　Piano
トランペット　Trumpet
クラリネット　Clarinet
フルート　　　Flute
チューバ　　　Tuba
ハープ　　　　Harp
トロンボーン　Trombone
ビオラ　　　　Viola
チェロ　　　　Cello
オーボエ　　　Oboe
太鼓 (たいこ)　(traditional) drums
ドラム　　　　Drums

When you are talking about playing an instrument, it gets a bit more complicated.

There are several verbs used to mean “play,” and they depend on which type of instrument you are talking about playing.

Firstly, the verb 演奏する (えんそうする) can be used for any instrument. However, it has a connotation of a musical performance.

彼は「Wonderwall」をギターで演奏した。
かれ　は　ワンダーウォール　を　ギター　で　えんそうした。
He played “Wonderwall” on the guitar.
Literally: "he + は + Wonderwall + を + guitar + で + played."

But more specifically, there are three verbs to use when talking about playing instruments.

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弾く (ひく) is a verb that can mean “to snap” or “to pluck.” This is used when you talk about playing string instruments like guitar, violin, or piano.

まゆみさんはギターを弾くことができる。
まゆみさん　は　ギター　を　ひく　こと　が　できる。
Mayumi-san can play the guitar.
Literally: “Mayumi-san + は + guitar + を + play / flick + thing + can do.”

彼は有名なオーケストラでバイオリンを弾いています。
かれ　は　ゆうめい　な　オーケストラ　で　バイオリン　を　ひいています。
He plays violin in a famous orchestra.
Literally: “he + は + famous + orchestra + で + violin + を + is playing / flicking.”

わたしはピアノを弾くことに人生をささげています。
わたし　は　ピアノ　を　ひく　こと　に　じんせい　を　ささげています。
I have devoted my whole life to playing the piano.
Literally: “I + は + piano + を + play / flick + ことに + whole life + を + am devoting.”

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When talking about wind instruments, the verb 吹く (ふく) is used, which means “to blow.”

私はブラスバンド部でトランペットを吹いている。
わたし　は　ブラスバンド　ぶ　で　トランペット　を　ふいている。　
I play the trumpet in a brass band club.
Literally: “I + は + brass band + club + で + trumpet + を + am blowing / am playing”

高校生時代、私はトロンボーンを吹いていました。
こうこうせい　じだい、わたし　は　トロンボーン　を　ふいていました。
When I was in high school, I played the trombone.
Literally: “high school + era + I + は + trombone + を + was blowing / was playing”

私はフルートを吹くことが好きです。
わたし　は　フルート　を　ふく　こと　が　すき　です。
I love playing the flute.
Literally: “I + は + flute + を + blow / play + ことが + like + です”

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Lastly, when you want to say you play the drums, you use the verb 叩く (たたく), which means “to hit.” The Japanese word 太鼓 (たいこ) is typically used for traditional drums, while the katakana word ドラム is used for modern drum sets. Check these words in Google Images to see what I mean.

彼女はドラムをたたくことができる。
かのじょ　は　ドラム　を　たたく　こと　が　できる。
She can play the drums.
Literally: “she + は + drums + play / hit + can”

ブラジルの太鼓を叩こう！
ブラジル　の　たいこ　を　たたこう！
Let’s play Brazilian drums!
Literally: “Brazilian + の + drums + を + let’s play / let's hit”

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Try to figure out how to talk about the instrument you play.

Write down in Japanese how long you have been playing, what your favorite music is, or even what influenced you to start playing an instrument.

If you don’t happen to play anything, try writing about an instrument you would like to play if you could, or a concert you saw and which instruments were being played.

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This lesson was written by Cassy L., a guest contributor: